The Victorian Opposition has promised to pass new laws allowing the state government to sack councils who refuse to celebrate Australia day.
The state Coalition plan would force unpatriotic local councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26 and celebrate the national day.
Three inner-city Melbourne councils – Darebin, Moreland and Yarra – refused to celebrate the day last year and support a changing of the date.
The Victorian Opposition has promised to pass new laws allowing the state government to sack councils who refuse to celebrate Australia day (stock image)
The state Coalition plan would force unpatriotic local councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26 and celebrate the national day (pictured are state Opposition leader Matthew Guy, left, and Daerbin Mayor Kim Le Cerf, right)
Three inner-city Melbourne councils – Darebin, Moreland and Yarra – refused to celebrate the day last year and support a changing of the date (stock image)
Greens-led Darebin and Yarra went a step further and refused to hold citizenship ceremonies before the Turnbull Government stripped them of their power to do so.
Matthew Guy’s state Opposition said local councils should focus on services such as roads and rates instead of meddling in national issues, The Herald Sun reported.
‘If councillors want to change the date of Australia Day, then they should resign from council and run for federal parliament,’ said Opposition local government spokesman David Morris.
Matthew Guy’s state Opposition said local councils should focus on services such as roads and rates instead of meddling in national issues (stock image)
Kim Le Cerf, mayor of Darebin, slammed the proposal, calling it ‘opportunistic’ and disrespectful to Aboriginals.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has been critical of the councils which have supported a date-change, and was backed on Thursday by Local Government Minister Marlene Kairouz.
‘We’ll be celebrating Australia Day on January 26 and everything that makes our country great,’ she said, adding people should vote out councils they don’t like.
An Institute of Public Affairs Poll of more than 1000 people found 70 per cent do not want to change the date of Australia Day.
Of those polled, only 23 per cent of people said council celebrations and citizenship ceremonies should be shifted to an alternative date.
About 50 per cent of people said they did not agree with some councils’ decision to move the date and 76 per cent said they believe the country should be proud of its history.
Daily Mail Australia contacted Matthew Guy and Kim Le Cerf for comment.
An Institute of Public Affairs Poll of more than 1000 people found 70 per cent do not want to change the date of Australia Day (stock image)